Vermont Public Radio reports that the Vermont Meals on Wheel program, which has been feeding the city's older citizens two-meals a day since 1972, delivered its two millionth meal. Senator Patrick Leahy was there to help deliver the meal in Burlington on Monday. Notably, the Meals on Wheels program coordinates hundreds of volunteers around the state who check in on older people to provide nourishment, and a little bit of company.

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The Burlington Free Press reports that "the West River Valley Senior Housing development in Townshend is being recognized as the No. 1 new senior housing development in the United States" by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. The Townshend complex, which opened last October, provides a mix of market-rate, affordable and rent-subsidized units, including 24 independent living apartments and 28 units of assisted living. The organization will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington later this week, and " Housing Vermont, which helped develop the Townshend project, will receive a $5,000 award."

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The Bennington Banner reports that "Windham County Reads has begun its 10th year of the Bookmobile, a bus retrofitted to be a portable library, that travels to child care centers, senior apartment complexes, [and low income housing complexes] to bring books to the people." The bus makes 70 stops and spends 15 to 30 minutes at each stop. At each stop "residents have [the] chance to borrow books in various genres and children [can] hear a story, see a puppet show and hear songs before they browse the shelves."

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The Burlington Free Press reports that HomeShare Vermont, "a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting elderly residents and people with disabilities in Chittenden, Addison and Grand Isle counties to live independently in their own homes by connecting them with persons seeking affordable housing or caregiving opportunities," has "received national recognition from the Federal Administration on Aging (AoA) as a 2008 National Aging Program Champion." Notably, "the designation highlights programs and initiatives in States and communities that demonstrate the principles of the AoA’s efforts to modernize community-based long term care and provide supports that enable older Americans to maintain their independence in the community for as long as possible."

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The Burlington Free Press reports that students from Charlotte Central School have just finished participating in the Memory Bridge Initiative, a 12-week program created by The Foundation for Alzheimer's and Cultural Memory that links middle- and high-school students with people with Alzheimer's disease in residential care settings. Through the program students gain a better understanding of memory impairment and learn to communicate with the memory-impaired. The program also "provides students with an opportunity to grow socially and emotionally, and for those with Alzheimer's, offers meaningful interaction and community involvement."

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